Toy for mounting on a child&#39;s shoe

ABSTRACT

A shoe is adaptable to receive a number of different styled decorative toy shoe straps. On a first side of the shoe is a male portion of a snap assembly that secures one end of a toy shoe strap having a female portion of the snap assembly. Located on the second side of the shoe is a rectangular slot for receiving the toy strap wherein the strap passes through the slot and is folded back on itself towards the first side of the shoe. The second end of the toy strap is then secured to the shoe over the first end using a hook and loop material (e.g., Velcro). An upper side of the interchangeable toy shoe strap is decorated with various designs, shapes and colors.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to children's shoes, and moreparticularly to a toy strap that can be removably attached to child'sshoe.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

Shoes are available in a variety of colors and styles. There have beenattempts to improve the aesthetics of shoes that allow a user to changethe look and style of a particular shoe. For example, U.S. Pat. No.5,992,058, to Jneid, describes a shoe with a sole having upper and lowersurfaces and a perimeter sidewall extending around the perimeter of thesole between the upper and lower surfaces of the sole. Each end of ashoe strap is removably attached to the perimeter sidewall of the sole.A shortcoming of this type of strap is that it requires each end of thestrap to be secured to opposing sides of the shoe. This creates twopoints of failure where the strap can become accidentally disengagedfrom the shoe. Further, the strap must be sized appropriately for theuser and is not adjustable.

Another example of the prior art is U.S. Pat. No. 6,651,359 to Bricker,that describes a base shoe strap that is permanently affixed to the shoeand having an upper side covered with a first portion of a hook and loopfastening system. Decorative and interchangeable covers are secured overthe base shoe strap using a second portion of a hook and loop fasteningsystem disposed on a lower surface of the decorative cover. Similar tothe shortcomings of Jneid described above, Bricker fails to disclose,among other things, an adjustable strap and the decorative cover issusceptible to accidentally becoming dislodged from the base strap. U.S.Pat. No. 6,769,204, to Phillips has similar shortcomings in that itdescribes a sandal with interchangeable decorative ribbons that fit overthe sandal straps. The sandal straps are provided with an upper surfacehaving a hook and loop fastener and the ribbons are provided with alower surface having a hook and loop fastener for securing to the sandalstraps. Again, the sandal straps are not adjustable and the decorativeribbons are susceptible to becoming detached from the underlying sandalstraps.

Accordingly, there is a need in the art for a novel, non-obvious andimproved shoe that includes an adjustable toy strap that isinterchangeable.

There is another need in the art for an improved shoe that includes anadjustable toy shoe strap that is decorative yet remains securelyattached to the shoe.

There is also a need in the art for an improved shoe that includes anadjustable toy shoe strap that can be decorated with user-selectedornaments.

Notwithstanding the existence of prior art shoes, there is a need for animproved shoe strap. It is, therefore, to the effective resolution ofthe aforementioned problems and shortcomings of the prior art that thepresent invention is directed. However, in view of the prior art at thetime the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those ofordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could befulfilled.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The shoe of the present invention is adaptable to receive a number ofdifferent styled decorative toy shoe straps. On a first side of the shoeis a male portion of a snap assembly that secures one end of a toy shoestrap having a female portion of the snap assembly. Located on thesecond side of the shoe is a rectangular slot for receiving the toystrap wherein the strap passes through the slot and is folded back onitself towards the first side of the shoe. The second end of the toystrap is then secured to the shoe over the first end using a hook andloop material (e.g., Velcro). An upper side of the interchangeable toyshoe strap is decorated with various designs, shapes and colors.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide for animprovement that overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the priorart and provides a significant contribution to the advancement of shoes.

Both the foregoing general description and the following detaileddescription are explanatory and are not restrictive of the invention asclaimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in andconstitute part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of thepresent invention and together with the general description, serve toexplain principles of the present invention.

These and other important objects, advantages, and features of theinvention will become clear as this description proceeds.

The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction,combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will beexemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope ofthe invention will be indicated in the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention,reference should be made to the following detailed description, taken inconnection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a right side perspective view of a shoe according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2. is a left side perspective view of the shoe according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the shoe according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 4 is a right side perspective view of a shoe according to anembodiment of the present invention shown without the interchangeabletoy shoe strap for clarity;

FIG. 5 is a right perspective view of the shoe according to anembodiment of the present invention showing the interchangeable toy shoestrap prior to a decorative portion being attached to an underlyingportion of the strap;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of a first side of the interchangeable toy strapshowing the hook and loop components according to an embodiment of thepresent invention;

FIG. 7 is a top view of a second side of the interchangeable toy strapshowing the decorations and a female portion of the snap assemblyaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of a first side of the interchangeable toy strapshowing the hook and loop components according to an alternativeembodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a top view of a second side of the interchangeable toy strapshowing the decorations according to an alternative embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The present invention includes a toy strap to provide entertainment forchildren as they decorate their shoes. The toy strap is interchangeableto accommodate a variety of designs. Accordingly, the shoe can bedecorated to match better with a child's particular clothing, time ofyear or special occasion. For example, holiday type decorations can beused to accent the toy shoe straps or having the strap embroidered witha child's name is also contemplated.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, shoe 10 includes sole 20, shoe upper 30 andtoy strap 40. Shoe upper 30 extends upward from the periphery of sole 20to form an aperture 50 so a child's foot (not shown) can slide withinshoe upper 30. A heel portion at the rear portion of shoe 10 and anenclosed toe portion at the front portion of the shoe 10 secures shoe 10to the child's foot. Referring now to FIG. 1, strap 40 overlaps aperture50 and extends beyond shoe upper 30. Strap 40 can be made of anymaterial suitable for footwear and known by those skilled in the art,such as leather or vinyl. As seen in FIG. 2, strap 40 is secured throughbuckle assembly 60, which is sewn into the outer surface of shoe upper30. Buckle assembly 60 includes a square aperture for receiving strap40.

FIG. 3 shows a rear view of shoe 10. A first end of strap 40 is snappedonto shoe upper 30 using a male portion of a snap assembly. Strap 40then bridges across aperture 50 and slides through the square apertureof buckle assembly 60 and is folded back onto itself towards buckleassembly 60. Hook and loop material on the lower surface of strap 50 isused to secure strap 40 in place and overlap the underlying portion ofstrap 40.

Referring now to FIG. 4, male portion 70 of snap assembly is shown on afirst side of shoe upper 30. As explained above, male portion 70 isinserted into the female portion of snap assembly 60, which is disposedon the underside of the first end of strap 40. The snap assembly firmlysecures the first end of strap 40 to shoe upper 30. In an alternativeembodiment, a buckle assemble, ring, or other fastening means may beused to secure the first end of strap 40 to shoe upper 30.

FIG. 5 illustrates strap 40 as the first end is secured to shoe upper 30and buckle assembly 60. Strap 40 is positioned to be folded back onitself to display the decorative upper portion of strap 40. Hook andloop material 75 is included on the lower surface of strap 40 proximateto the second end to attach to hook and loop material 78 disposedproximate to the first end of strap 40.

Referring now to FIG. 6 shows a first side 82 of strap 40 that includeshook and loop material 75, 78. The first section of strap 40 is narrowerthan a second section of strap 40 so that when strap 40 is folded backon itself, the second section overlaps the first section completely.FIG. 7 illustrates a second side 80 of strap 40 wherein first section ofstrap 40 displays decorations that are removable from strap 40. Femaleportion 72 of the snap assembly is shown proximate to the first end andis used to secure first end of toy strap 40 to shoe upper 30.

In a particular illustrative alternative embodiment, strap 40 mayinclude an elastic portion 110 interposed between a first section andsecond section of strap 40 as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The elasticportion 110 may provide additional comfort to the child's foot whenwearing shoe 10. Referring now to FIG. 7 shows a first side of strap 40that includes hook or loop material 75 covering a second section ofstrap 40. The first section of strap 40 is narrower than the secondsection of strap 40 so that when strap 40 is folded back on itself, thesecond section overlaps the first section completely and revealing adecorative portion of the strap 40 as shown in FIG. 8. A second side 80of strap 40 includes a first section of strap 40 that may displaydecorations that are removable from strap 40. Hook or loop material isdisposed on the first section of the second side 80 of strap 40. Thecorrelating hook or loop material is disposed on the first section ofthe second side and may be used to secure the first end of strap 40 toshow upper 30. In another embodiment, a second ring and/or buckleassembly may be attached to show upper 30 and the first end of strap 40is secured to shoe upper 30 using the second ring or buckle assembly.

The particular embodiments disclosed above and in the drawings areillustrative only, as the invention may be modified and practiced indifferent but equivalent manners apparent to those skilled in the arthaving the benefit of the teachings herein. Furthermore, no limitationsare intended to the details of construction or design herein shown. Itis therefore evident that the particular embodiments disclosed above maybe altered or modified and all such variations are considered within thescope and spirit of the invention.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended tocover all of the generic and specific features of the invention hereindescribed, and all statements of the scope of the invention, which as amatter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Now that the invention has been described,

1. A child's toy, the toy comprising: an elongated strap for removablyattaching to a child's shoe; the shoe further comprising a sole having alower planar surface and an upper planar surface, wherein the solehaving a size similar to a bottom of a child's foot; a shoe upperextending upwards from the periphery of the sole to form a shoe openinghaving a size so that the child's foot can slide therein; wherein theshoe upper further comprising a heel portion to support a heel of thechild's foot and an enclosed toe portion to secure a child's toes withinthe shoe; the elongated strap having a first section and a secondsection, wherein the second section having a length and width that isgreater than the first section; a female portion of a snap assemblydisposed proximate to a first end of the elongated strap for receiving amale portion of the snap assembly disposed on a first outer surface ofthe shoe upper so that the snap assembly firmly secures the first end ofthe elongated strap to the shoe upper; and a buckle assembly sewn to asecond outer surface of the shoe upper wherein the buckle assemblyhaving a rectangular aperture for receiving the toy strap therethroughso that the strap bridges across the shoe opening and slides through thesquare aperture of the buckle assembly and the toy strap is folded backonto itself towards the snap assembly so that an upper surface of thesecond section of the toy strap is visible.
 2. The toy of claim 1,wherein the elongated toy strap is vinyl material.
 3. The toy of claim1, wherein hook and loop material is disposed proximate to the first endof the toy strap to secure the second end of the strap in place when thesecond section is overlapping the underlying first section of the strap.4. The toy of claim 3, wherein the second section of the toy strapcovers the first section of the toy strap completely so that it is notreadily visible.
 5. The toy of claim 4, wherein the toy strap furthercomprises button openings for receiving decorative ornaments.
 6. The toyof claim 5, wherein the decorative ornaments are in a shape and size offlowers sized and configured to be removably secured to the toy strap.7. The toy of claim 1, wherein the first section of the toy strap iscomprised of a different material than the second section of the toystrap.
 8. The toy of claim 7, wherein the first section of the toy straphaving a thickness less than a thickness of the second section.
 9. Thetoy of claim 1, wherein the toy strap is adjustable in length to bridgethe foot opening.
 10. The toy of claim 1, wherein a lower surface of thefirst section of the toy strap having cushioning material so that thestrap is comfortable to a child's foot.
 11. The toy of claim 1, whereinan upper surface of the second section of the toy strap is visiblydisplaying a child's name.
 12. The toy of claim 1, wherein an uppersurface of the second section of the toy strap is visibly displaying aholiday message.
 13. A child's toy, the toy comprising: an elongatedstrap for removably attaching to a child's shoe; the elongated straphaving a first section and a second section, wherein the second sectionhaving a length and width that is greater than the first section; afirst portion of an attachment assembly disposed proximate to a firstend of the elongated strap for receiving a second portion of theattachment assembly disposed on a first outer surface of the shoe sothat the attachment assembly firmly secures the first end of theelongated strap to the shoe; and a buckle assembly sewn to a secondouter surface of the shoe wherein the buckle assembly having an aperturefor receiving the toy strap therethrough so that the strap bridgesacross the shoe and slides through the aperture of the buckle assemblyand the toy strap is folded back onto itself towards the attachmentassembly so that an upper surface of the second section of the toy strapis visible.
 14. The toy of claim 13, wherein a button is disposedproximate to the first end of the toy strap to secure the second end ofthe strap in place when the second section is overlapping the underlyingfirst section of the strap.
 15. The toy of claim 14, wherein the secondsection of the toy strap covers the first section of the toy strapcompletely so that it is not readily visible.
 16. The toy of claim 15,wherein the toy strap further comprises button openings for receivingdecorative ornaments.
 17. The toy of claim 13, wherein the first sectionof the toy strap is comprised of a different material than the secondsection of the toy strap.
 18. The toy of claim 13, wherein the toy strapis adjustable in length to bridge the shoe.
 19. The toy of claim 13,wherein an upper surface of the second section of the toy strap isvisibly displaying a message.
 20. A child's toy, the toy comprising: anelongated strap for removably attaching to a child's shoe; wherein thelength of the strap is sized so that the strap bridges across the shoeand folds back onto itself so that an upper surface of the strap isvisible to decorate.